After falling asleep at around 2 or 3am, we are awoken by church bells at 6am. Vespers. We roll out of  bed, through on some clothes and brush our teeth, and walk up the hill to church. This is the first time I can see where we are in the daylight. The compound is beautiful. There is a school, hospital, and church, all on the grounds. The earth is red, and all the pathways are dirt, so they are red too. It is striking next to the white buildings. Alex and I run around, take some pictures, clear our tired eyes, and head into church.

Ringing the bell for church

To walk into a church in Uganda, and to see the same Church that I attend in America was moving. It feels like home. That sameness, yet so far away, which is the beauty of Orthodoxy. The deacons come out and start chanting, and it is beautiful. They are speaking Luganda, but I know what they are singing, as it is the same in America. Again, I feel like I’m at home, without the kids running around, making noise, asking for bread. Oh, how I miss them.

After church, we head back to our room to get ready for the day, and to freshen up. WOW!!!! They said cold showers but, oh man! It was very cold!

We met the team for breakfast (hard boiled eggs, toast with peanut butter, and fruit). The BEST pineapple in the world! Freshly picked, cut and perfect!!!!

Alex, Nick, and Dr. Sue are going to the pharmacy today to pick up our meds for the trip, and I am taking the rest of the team into the city to exchange money, buy our excursion tickets (for the end of the trip), and to get a cell phone for the group. No problem right? Well, we are in Africa! The money exchange goes well, and the ticket buying goes OK. But when we get to the market to buy a cell phone, Dr. Mike, his daughter Mika, and the driver set out to buy the cell phone. The rest of us will wait in the car, because, really how long will this take. No sense in all of us getting out – all 6 of us! 2 hours go by, and there is no sign of them. Fr. Nicholas calls the driver, they have the phone, but now they have to register it (you know, so the government can make sure they aren’t terrorists!) Another hour goes by, and it is getting hot in the van. Personalities, true personalities, are starting to emerge. Zoey, must drink gallons of water a day to stay alive, which means that she also needs to find a restroom. Janice is hungry, and is willing to try anything. The Deebs sisters, are so sweet and offer to take Zoey and Janice out to find something to drink and eat. Rachel and I stay in the van with Fr.

The girls all come back, and eventually so does Dr. Mike and Mika, and we can go back to the rest of the group, who is waiting for us, because they needed the exchanged money, to buy more meds. Oops! Sorry for the delay. Alex, Dr Sue and I head back to the pharmacy at 7:30pm to find more meds.

I have to explain a little about Kampala. It is a big city. Many people. Many people in cars/trucks/vans, and boda-bodas (motorcycles). They all drive on the left, unless they need to drive on the right, for any reason. They honk and flash their lights to oncoming traffic to let them know that they need to wait, or move to the other side of the road. And they all drive fast. Really fast. It is truly a miracle every day that cars and people make it to their destination – alive!

All of our sense have been assaulted. The smells, sights, and sounds, and the fear of being hit by a vehicle (or many!), are all new. Thankfully, most people speak english so it makes it a little easier to get around.

I can already tell that the days are going to be long, but hopefully once we start the clinics things will settle down. Right?